Questions about Pet Sharks

[Hiroyushi]

Hi there, I was wondering what is the smallest shark I can get that feeds on feeder goldfish. After naming which shark it is can you please send me sources of how to care for these sharks. I was looking at the paroon shark and they are awesome but I simply do not have the space to care for one properly and I do not want to stress them out by putting them in a tank smaller than they deserve. So please tell me which is the smallest shark that feeds on feeder gold fish. Thanks in advance

 

[chrisdef15]

Few problems straight up.

For starters a paroon is just a catfish.

No marine shark should really ever be fed goldfish though on occasion as a treat (more for you then it) it wont be the end of the world.

To own a marine shark you really need experience with salt water tanks.

But too answer your question any shark if hungry will have a go at a goldfish if it happens to swim close enough. As far as small goes your looking at a coral catshark or a bamboo. They arent the open water swimmers (typical scary shark look like jaws ect) i think your looking for though as most of the time they will be sitting around on the bottom. They also still get 24"+ so really need 6'lx30"w tank atleast (not sure of gallons not from US). If you want a shark thats gonna be swimming all the time i think a finetooth is the smallest available with any regularity and they get 4-5' and will need more of a lagoon (think few thousand gallon) then a tank.
Im no expert though so best to wait for some others to chime in. Also worth doing a search on the species i listed and do some reading yourself.

 

[Hiroyushi]

I'm not interested in getting in large shark and I starting with fresh water so I'm just gonna get myself a rainbow shark and a 55 gallon tank.

 

[superleggera123]

DUDE!!!!!!!!!!! get Cuckoo catfish... they look like sharks to me at least and are really cool... u can keep 3 of these guys in the 55 with some African cichlids.... trust me they are awesome.. since u are from toronto i recommend Finatics Aquarium, the owner Mike has the guys for 50$ a trio.. goodluck
p.s i have these guys in my tank

 

[Acura_RSX]

Few problems straight up.

For starters a paroon is just a catfish.

No marine shark should really ever be fed goldfish though on occasion as a treat (more for you then it) it wont be the end of the world.

To own a marine shark you really need experience with salt water tanks.

But too answer your question any shark if hungry will have a go at a goldfish if it happens to swim close enough. As far as small goes your looking at a coral catshark or a bamboo. They arent the open water swimmers (typical scary shark look like jaws ect) i think your looking for though as most of the time they will be sitting around on the bottom. They also still get 24"+ so really need 6'lx30"w tank atleast (not sure of gallons not from US). If you want a shark thats gonna be swimming all the time i think a finetooth is the smallest available with any regularity and they get 4-5' and will need more of a lagoon (think few thousand gallon) then a tank.
Im no expert though so best to wait for some others to chime in. Also worth doing a search on the species i listed and do some reading yourself.

I assume he is going for freshwater anyways. and not looking for a real shark .. just the smaller fish CALLED sharks. And to answer you're question not many. paroon/ID shark will eat feeders yes but as you said they get big. obviously they wont all grow to three feet long. but your looking at him getting to two feet eventuallyyy. other then them there aren't many options. not sure if columbian sharks are aggresive and preditorial enough to eat feeders as i've never kept them but it's something to look into. most of the smaller shakrs though won't eat them. bala's .. redtail's (obvious) .. all those wont even at full size i don't believe.

 

[Acura_RSX]

Oh and just realised you're also canadian .. dude take my word for this. and i'm sureee almost everyone on this forum will agree with me. chuck the idea of sharks and take advantage of snakeheads (channa) being legal for you like i am. i went with sharks first when i got into fishkeeping .. moved out of that when i realised there isn't anything i like so got some oscars. they are cool but once i really learned about snakeheads .. i'm working on getting them now and will do what it takes until i do. You will make everyyyyy american on this site jelous that they are legal here. they are brutalllll preditors and will eat whatever live fish u wanna feed them (you can't keep a community though .. they will kill everything else) ask around and see how many people agree. go channa!!

 

[superleggera123]

.... i wanted snakeheads.. but went with Cichlids.. but i am getting some next year

 

[Acura_RSX]

.... i wanted snakeheads.. but went with Cichlids.. but i am getting some next year

you will get more then enough people agree with that to change ur mind i'm sure. they are amazing preditors and the dwarf sepcies can get a max of 8-12 inchs depending on what ur interested in. i would recomend channa bleheri (8" max .. ish)

 

[superleggera123]

yea but the cuckoo catfish eat like pigs too
again ill get channa soon... but for now im happy with my cichlid setup...
But u must admit acura that channa are not easy to care for... they need good water quality and good food.. feeders usually have problems with them and a high protein diet is needed... but its his choice.. aslong as he knows what he is doing and is ready
..... snakeheads are awesome though... i find um cute

 

[sour_girl]

The only "sharks" that stay small dont look like real sharks anyways...and the ones that do get much too big for the average aquarist. I had a paroon shark a few years back when I bought before researching.. it was all fun and games till he hit 10 inches and startedkilling everything in my tank!

If you are looking for something that will go after feeders there are many types of fish out there.. I hope you find something.